Apparatus for teaching the art of swimming



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICEo SOCRATES SCHOLFIELD, NORWICH, CONNECTICUT.

APPARATUS FOR TEACHING THE ART OF SWIMMING.

Speciiication forming part of Letters Patent No. 38,505, dated May 12, 1863.

the Art of Swimming; and Ido herebydeclare that the following is a full and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification.

-The nature of my invention consists in arranging an apparatus consisting of either iioats or breathing-pipes, or both, combined in such a manner that while they act beneiicially as a support or for breathing, when the wearer is motionless in the water, they may also be rendered either superfluous or inoperative while he is making the proper motions in the act of swimming, this change from a state of beneiicial action to a state in which such action is suspended being ei'ected by such motions, and directly resulting therefrom.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, l will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A in Figure l represents a float of indiarubber in the form oi' a ring, containing air,

and so arranged as to possess sufficient elastfcity to hold itself` upon the head in the position represented. The breathing-pipe B passes from the mouth upward through the ring C, which is secured to the float. To the curved end of the pipe B is attached the mouthpiece D, made of india-rubber or other suitable material, consisting of the two small pipes b b, joinedto the main pipe a, which is also furnished wit-h a ilange, c c. This mouthpiece, when properly inserted, furnishes a communication with both the mouth and nos. trilslfor the purpose of breathing, the air being received and expelled through the pipe B.

The manner of using this form of the apparatus will be as follows, viz After placing the float upon the head, as represented, the pipe B is to be passed up through the ring C, which may iit it loosely, and the mouth-piece D so adjusted that the pipes b I) may enterthe nostrils, fitting tightly in order to exclude the water while breathing, and the iiange c c passes around the mouth between the teeth and lips, whereby the entrance of water into the mouth will be prevented. In breathing, the air will pass from the nostrils through the pipes b b and from the mouth through the pipe c, connecting with the pipe B. [t is now evident that a person so prepared can never sink in the water far enough to obstruct the pipe B through which he breathes. He should therefore enter the water until he is entirely snpported by the float, when, by making the least exertion, his head, with the whole ap paratus attached, will be raised out of the water, thereby compelling the conviction that in future he can depend upon his own unaided exertions. Itis not essential that the float should be attached in the position described, as it may be secured in any position where the proper motions of the wearer in the act of swimming will cause it to be raised out of the water in such a manner as to render it inoperative. I also do not intend to be restricted to any particular form or material in the construction of such oat.

What l claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The use of either floats or breathing-pipes, when constructed and arranged in such a manner that they may be raised out of the water and rendered useless by the proper motions of the wearer in the act of swimming.

2. The mouth-piece D, when constructed substantially in the form specified.

SOCRATES SCHOLFIELD.

Witnesses:

BENJN. F. SGHOLEIELD, GYEUs N. ScHoLErELD. 

